PresentationIn French, “court-circuit” refers to a “short circuit” — and while this electrical mishap usually indicates that something has gone awry, for Ensemble Court-Circuit, it instead encompasses a charged flow of artistic adventurousness that surveys the boundaries of contemporary music.

Founded in 1991 by Philippe Hurel and Pierre-André Valade and composed entirely of virtuoso musicians, Ensemble Court-Circuit was quickly recognized as one of Europe’s most outstanding new music ensembles. It has premiered the works of many notable modern composers — including Murail, Jarrell, Leroux, Matalon, Hurel, Lanza, Wallin, D'Adamo, Markéas, Fineberg, Reynolds, and Hervé — and has performed at important European festivals and French musical institutions such as Radio France, the Paris Opéra, and the Cité de la Musique. Court-Circuit is also involved in interdisciplinary projects, frequently taking part in Paris Opéra ballet premieres, the Ciné-concert Paris, and films with musical accompaniment at the Louvre Museum.

Active educators, Ensemble Court-Circuit are regular workshop collaborators with the Conservatoire de Paris. As a member of the Integra project, they are also among those European artists working to create an environment that encourages the composition and sharing of music with electronics. Ensemble Court-Circuit has recorded works by Murail, Leroux, Blondeau, Grisey, D'Adamo, Hurel, Fineberg, Reynolds, Matalon and Hervé.